Disney Wonder December 12-17, 2014

2014 Disney cruise December 11-17

On Thursday December 11, 2014... A trip we booked in February 2013 was about to come to fruition. I love Disney and wanted to take a merry time cruise. So I booked a 5 day trip on the Disney wonder leaving from Miami and stopping in Grand Cayman and Cozumel…. Two Caribbean islands we had not seen.

We left stl 45 minutes late...at 5:15. We had first class seats on American Airlines. We had dinner and I watched the movie Tammy and Steve watched planet of the apes. Both were mediocre at best.

We got to Miami and caught the shuttle to our hotel the Hilton Miami airport. It was a very nice hotel and we had a nice room overlooking the water...but we had two double beds.We got all settled in about 10 pm.

We got up the next morning and Steve had a sore throat. We had free breakfast at the hotel. We walked around and took some pictures. We caught a shuttle to the port which was 15$ apiece. The wonder is a fairly small older ship. We checked in and went straight on board but we had to wait about thirty minutes to go to our room at 1:30 #6076.

Our room is lovely....a 1 bedroom suite with veranda. ....very well appointed...lots of shelf, drawer, and closet space. This is one area Disney exceeds the other cruise lines.
Our room is clean...the room steward, Jhe Del Rosario does a great job...The ship is not pristine…because it is older...but it is clean and nice.
We went to lunch at parrot cay...a buffet. Prior to boarding I had purchased a 5 day premium wine package, our excursions, and the photo package. We had a glass of wine with lunch...$9 apiece. We wanted to save our bottle for dinner.
The ship is small and easy to navigate…..though the elevators are very small.
We went to the sail away party at 5 and got another glass of wine.
Our dinner time is 5:45....and our servers are Jane from the Philippines and Duran from Jamaica. We had dinner at tritons....they put us at table 16 with a group of three older couples. Cassie and Jim who live in wildwood, Doug from Texas is here without his wife...she missed the ship....we are still trying to figure that one out….and Melody and Fred from Florida. Steve had Chateaubriand and I had duck.
Following dinner...we got our pictures taken and we went to the show....all aboard. We enjoyed it.

On Saturday, we had a day at sea....we had booked a champagne breakfast at Palo at 10 for $25 apiece. It was quite a spread and our waiter Justin from Tasmania was lovely. After brunch...we went to the pool. We moved several times trying to get chairs in the adult only section. We were finally able to do so about 1:00. We stayed by the pool until about 4. We came to the room and took a nap. Steve is getting sicker by the day. We got up at 5 showered and went to dinner at animator’s palette. Steve had red snapper and I had chicken. After dinner...we got pictures taken…even one with Captain Gus and then we went to the show the golden mickeys. It was wonderful! We got to bed about 9:30.

On Sunday...we docked in Grand Cayman. We got up and had breakfast at parrot cay. We booked the submarine tour. We saw lots of fish, a ray and a turtle. We had lunch at Margaritaville... It was terrible. We finally got our pictures taken with some characters. I got a ticket for a meet and greet with the frozen princesses. Then we saw Donald, Minnie, Mickey, Peter Pan, and stitch. So it was good! We had dinner at animators palette again. We went to the pirate party.

On Monday we docked in Cozumel. We went to the ruins…which was a wonderful tour with Sebastian. Steve bought me a shark figurine, necklace, bracelet and earrings made out of black coral. We then went to Playa Mia resort for some beach time. We got our pictures taken with some macaws and an orange iguana.
We had dinner at parrot cay. I had chicken.

Tuesday was a day at sea. We sat by the pool. We had dinner at palo for $25 apiece.We again had Justin from Tasmania as our waiter. We both had the beef ravioli. I will admit i was a bit disappointed in our dinner. It was good but nothing to rave about. I had the chocolate souffle...and it was good but not as good as it was when we went to Palo on the Dream in 2012. After dinner...We went to the Disney Dreams show.It was excellent!

Wednesday we had breakfast at tritons and left the ship. We went to the airport. We flew first class and both watched the movie sex tapes…it was hilarious! We had dinner. We got home about 5:30.

We had a wonderful time. Disney does a great job. I would certainly go on another Disney cruise. Of the three cruise lines we have sailed on...Disney, Princess, and Royal Caribbean..I would still rank Disney first. Next time....I think we might try Norwegian.

thanks for the report. I presume the ship was 'dressed up' appropriately for Christmas? Sorry to hear that Steve was sick. It's tough to be sick on vacation.

yes... the ship was decorated for Christmas...though the Atrium was very small so there isn't much to decorate. There was a tree and some garland on the Staircase...and they did a Christmas tree lighting the first night after the sail away party. The characters were dressed in some Christmas attire..but not as much as i anticipated. In reality...I guess i was a bit disappointed. They did have Santa and Mrs. Santa for the kids to get pictures with...and Mrs Santa did a reading of the night before Christmas.

We were on Princess a couple of years ago just before Christmas, and I thought it wasn't very decorated up either.

Maybe with all of the political correctness...they do the minimum so as not to offend?

Dont get me wrong...it was very pretty....and i am very glad we did it....but i would be lying if i told you i was not a bit disappointed.

If we do another Disney cruise...it will be on the Fantasy or the Dream or the magic. One time on the Wonder...was enough....unless they remodel it like they did the magic.

When i booked this cruise...it was on the magic. They had remodeled the magic and i was very excited...unfortunately they switched the ships on me. I could have cancelled...but decided to go ahead with the cruise.

I sailed on one of the inaugural sailings of the Dream (I work for Disney) for "work" <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> The Dream and the Fantasy are both LOVELY -- one little pet peeve I have on the Dream? The adult pool area is ridiculous and way too small with minimal chairs around the pool itself. There is a large deck above the pool with lots of seating, but you have to go up and down the stairs to get to the pool to cool off, etc. I just loved the Quiet Cove pool on the Wonder (same on the Magic). The Fantasy has the lovely wading pool area for the adults on the upper deck that the Dream does not. Remy is an experience not to be missed on both -- just fantastic. I do love our ships - they are absolutely beautiful - just wish the new ones had a better pool for the grown-ups.

"Of the three cruise lines we have sailed on...Disney, Princess, and Royal Caribbean..I would still rank Disney first. Next time....I think we might try Norwegian. "

If you like those brands, don't think you'll like NCL.

Holland America, Princess, Celebrity are good alternatives. Especially if traveling without kids. Of course, time of year impacts that.

I agree, unless you go with one of their suites.

maybe we will try Holland America....and we will book a suite perhaps....something more comparable to Disney.

I'd be surprised if you thought NCL was a winner. Food quality, service and basic stateroom & service far below Princess. IMHO, Holland America has a excessive retirement feel and the last ship I saw of their's last month had a very Rusty water line indicating deferred drydock.

Disney does do things right. The extra money you pay (2-3 times) shows throughout your cruise.

If looking for something luxurious above Disney -- suggest Seabourn < 250 cabins/ship, no tipping, all suites, open bars, all dining venues complimetary.....depart from St Martin, FLL and others. Not cheap, but neither is Disney.